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Showing posts with label SFU. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SFU. Show all posts
June 17, 2015
performance (n.)
This past weekend marked two milestones for me:
One involved teaching.
Both involved learning.
Oh, and anxiety.
Did I mention anxiety? (It's one of my strong suits.)
But thankfully, so is coping.
Otherwise, my heart would have palpitated itself to nervousness hell this weekend.
On Saturday, I taught my first full-day workshop on social advertising through SFU Continuing Studies to a class of 29 students. On Sunday, I got on stage under the hot lights of the Rickshaw Theatre and shimmied my way through a group bellydance routine - in front of 300.
These two events had me performing in two very different
capacities; though differently uncomfortable about each, I was still equally uncomfortable about both.
Some say, "preparation is the mother of victory," yet I can't say I was prepared for either one. How could I be? I'd never done either, so in good ol' overthinky-Vish fashion, my imagination got the best of me and took to my nerves, building up worst case scenarios - over and over - until the only thing I could do was try to forget, drink tequila cocktails and pretend it wasn't happening.
Until it was.
Kidding aside, my coping strategy was this: I kept reminding myself that my "performances" weren't so much about how well I ultimately performed, but how much effort I put into performing my best - whatever that was. In the end, we can't all be superstars. But worse than failing according to some normative standard is 1) not trying; and 2) well... not trying.
I'd like to think that any amount of "failure" would be worth it if it meant having no regrets; knowing I tried my best, of course, requires trying it in the first place.
All this got me thinking about courage and what it takes for us to try new things - especially those things that elicit that insurmountable fear made all the greater from the weight of public scrutiny.
For me, having people who support me is a huge part of what gets me started. But my own knowledge of the payoff is what keeps me going - the knowledge that if I put in my best efforts, I have much more to gain regardless of what happens, than my audience has to lose if I fail. This helps to takes the pressure off.
Looking back, both my "performances" turned out pretty well; wait, scratch that - they turned out great. Despite my own hard-on-myself standards, I felt incredibly empowered and proud of myself after the applause came. Whether that was due to the quality of my performance or my knowledge that I faced a fear doesn't matter. I came away feeling great - accomplished.
After a frenzied weekend of much anticipation and stress, my real accomplishment, as many say, was in fact just "showing up." How you define "showing up" is up to you, though I see it as "showing up" after showing up. This is where the real reward comes from.
It's about starting what you started, yes - but then also following through with integrity.
One involved teaching.
Both involved learning.
Oh, and anxiety.
Did I mention anxiety? (It's one of my strong suits.)
But thankfully, so is coping.
Otherwise, my heart would have palpitated itself to nervousness hell this weekend.
On Saturday, I taught my first full-day workshop on social advertising through SFU Continuing Studies to a class of 29 students. On Sunday, I got on stage under the hot lights of the Rickshaw Theatre and shimmied my way through a group bellydance routine - in front of 300.
performance (n.): late 15c., "accomplishment" (of something), from perform + -ance. Meaning "a thing performed" is from 1590s; that of "a public entertainment" is from 1709.
Some say, "preparation is the mother of victory," yet I can't say I was prepared for either one. How could I be? I'd never done either, so in good ol' overthinky-Vish fashion, my imagination got the best of me and took to my nerves, building up worst case scenarios - over and over - until the only thing I could do was try to forget, drink tequila cocktails and pretend it wasn't happening.
Until it was.
Kidding aside, my coping strategy was this: I kept reminding myself that my "performances" weren't so much about how well I ultimately performed, but how much effort I put into performing my best - whatever that was. In the end, we can't all be superstars. But worse than failing according to some normative standard is 1) not trying; and 2) well... not trying.
 |
| It's not all about the performance. It's more about performing - period. |
All this got me thinking about courage and what it takes for us to try new things - especially those things that elicit that insurmountable fear made all the greater from the weight of public scrutiny.
For me, having people who support me is a huge part of what gets me started. But my own knowledge of the payoff is what keeps me going - the knowledge that if I put in my best efforts, I have much more to gain regardless of what happens, than my audience has to lose if I fail. This helps to takes the pressure off.
Looking back, both my "performances" turned out pretty well; wait, scratch that - they turned out great. Despite my own hard-on-myself standards, I felt incredibly empowered and proud of myself after the applause came. Whether that was due to the quality of my performance or my knowledge that I faced a fear doesn't matter. I came away feeling great - accomplished.
accomplish (v.) from Old French acompliss-, lengthened stem of acomplir, based on Latin ad- + complere ‘to complete.’
After a frenzied weekend of much anticipation and stress, my real accomplishment, as many say, was in fact just "showing up." How you define "showing up" is up to you, though I see it as "showing up" after showing up. This is where the real reward comes from.
It's about starting what you started, yes - but then also following through with integrity.
show up (v.) 1826, "to disgrace through exposure," see show (v.) + up (adv.). Meaning "to put in an appearance, be present" is from 1888.It took almost the length of a human lifetime for the definition to evolve from disgracing someone by exposing them, to willingly exposing oneself. I say: Don't wait your whole life to try something new and scary. Expose yourself to those fears and challenges, do your best, and come into the light.
April 16, 2012
back-up plan (adj.)
So today, after a really wonderful weekend that was productive, sunny, and pleasant, I had somewhat of a nightmarish morning. After a couple of days of feeling satisfied from the work I'd put into my project report, and a couple of days of feeling almost relaxed at coffee dates with my mom and dinner dates with friends, I get hit with an onslaught of stress: Apparently the dreaded Approval Page has come back to haunt me.
Apparently, it's supposed to be in black and white - and not in colour (i.e. the word "Approval" cannot be in maroon as my personal template had for all the headings). It's super frustrating because it had moved through so many hands at this point and no one told me that this wasn't right. It was confirmed my department administrator and I only used colour PDFs of past theses for reference. While I can change the rest of the thesis to suit this requirement by editing the raw file (I've already done this), I can't really fix the Approvals Page as easily since it's an original.
Thankfully, Zahra, my industry supervisor in Montreal, has been so supportive and open to my constant requests for new copies of the Approval Page. Thankfully also, Nancy at the SFSS copy centre has been a total delight and made this process go as smoothly as possible this morning/afternoon (even though it's not too smooth). A couple of my closest friends have also been super supportive, and especially when I needed them, sitting on that dreaded bus ride up the mountain. These people have kept my nerves from getting out of whack and have kept stress at bay for the most part. Just trying to calm myself down and remind myself that it's not the end of the world (and somehow, when I'm on the 135 bus to/from SFU on E Hastings, this perspective is a lot easier to have).
So, I'm thanking my lucky stars for all the good that I have...and for having the privilege to hope. Hope that Purolator will deliver on time, not ship Zahra's envelope to the wrong place, or lose it in transit (bite my tongue). Hope that maybe the Assistant to Theses will take pity or not see the Approvals Page as such a problem. And finally, hope that I'll get all three signatures in by the 27th so that I can graduate...
So my word for today, as I sit in the Student Services centre at the Maggie Benston building in Burnaby, is "back-up plan." I keep remembering that when I went ahead and booked my appointment for the 16th with the intention of submitting it that day (today), I also had a back-up plan. I keep reassuring myself that it'll all be fine, because I planned for a worst case scenario. Unfortunately, it seems to be happening...but hopefully it'll all be fine in the end. It sucks that I'm out of town from Thursday to Tuesday of next week... but I trust that it's all going to be okay because I still have time - not loads of it, but hopefully enough. Otherwise I'll feel like my back-up plan is backing me into a corner.
Fingers crossed! My meeting is in 40 minutes.
Apparently, it's supposed to be in black and white - and not in colour (i.e. the word "Approval" cannot be in maroon as my personal template had for all the headings). It's super frustrating because it had moved through so many hands at this point and no one told me that this wasn't right. It was confirmed my department administrator and I only used colour PDFs of past theses for reference. While I can change the rest of the thesis to suit this requirement by editing the raw file (I've already done this), I can't really fix the Approvals Page as easily since it's an original.
Thankfully, Zahra, my industry supervisor in Montreal, has been so supportive and open to my constant requests for new copies of the Approval Page. Thankfully also, Nancy at the SFSS copy centre has been a total delight and made this process go as smoothly as possible this morning/afternoon (even though it's not too smooth). A couple of my closest friends have also been super supportive, and especially when I needed them, sitting on that dreaded bus ride up the mountain. These people have kept my nerves from getting out of whack and have kept stress at bay for the most part. Just trying to calm myself down and remind myself that it's not the end of the world (and somehow, when I'm on the 135 bus to/from SFU on E Hastings, this perspective is a lot easier to have).
So, I'm thanking my lucky stars for all the good that I have...and for having the privilege to hope. Hope that Purolator will deliver on time, not ship Zahra's envelope to the wrong place, or lose it in transit (bite my tongue). Hope that maybe the Assistant to Theses will take pity or not see the Approvals Page as such a problem. And finally, hope that I'll get all three signatures in by the 27th so that I can graduate...
So my word for today, as I sit in the Student Services centre at the Maggie Benston building in Burnaby, is "back-up plan." I keep remembering that when I went ahead and booked my appointment for the 16th with the intention of submitting it that day (today), I also had a back-up plan. I keep reassuring myself that it'll all be fine, because I planned for a worst case scenario. Unfortunately, it seems to be happening...but hopefully it'll all be fine in the end. It sucks that I'm out of town from Thursday to Tuesday of next week... but I trust that it's all going to be okay because I still have time - not loads of it, but hopefully enough. Otherwise I'll feel like my back-up plan is backing me into a corner.
Fingers crossed! My meeting is in 40 minutes.
April 7, 2012
deadline (n.)
Today, as I take a brief break from formatting my MPub thesis, I bring to you an entry that is mostly dedicated to myself. (Sorry.)
I've been pushing and pushing to get this thing done by April 16th, the day for which I've booked an appointment with the Assistant to Theses at SFU to submit my project report finally. I've been battling the red tape, though, and have spent hours interpreting the convoluted requirements for what consists of a complete thesis package. How do I know if it's "applicable"? Is "suggested" stronger than "optional"? I've fixed style errors, typos, and made it look almost nice. I've sifted through words like a proofreading robot, vowing to never read again.
I've also persisted against the Approvals Page margin problem (thank you fast-ass Purolator and wonderful Zahra at RDC!) and will hopefully have the entire committee's signatures by the end of next week. Now I'm inserting figures into the body of my report (with fingers crossed that I can use them all, as I wait to hear a few answers regarding a couple permissions requests). Once that's done, I'll start getting all the documentation in order, ticking off the list (and checking it twice). Then, off to the printer I go to figure out what "20lb bond paper acid free laser" paper is (maybe I already know) so that I can print it all, stick it in cream-coloured folders with perfect labels on them and submit it at the thesis office.
I've been picturing this scenario over and over again in my head, except that I'm clutching my folders as I run across a finish line. It's a bit less scary than thinking of it as a deadline.
What SFU claims to be "3 steps to submission" really feels more like a marathon - but I'm okay with that. At least I know I'm moving forward, rather than having that dreaded deadline looming over me, as though it's getting closer to me, instead of me chasing it.
So here's to killing the deadline (ironic pun intended) and advocating for the finish line!
Because, if I hit that finish line on April 16th, I am going to be a very happy camper.
Literally.
(Yup, I've decided -come hell or high water- I'm going to Coachella!!)
Of course, I also have a back-up plan, in case I lose the race. I'm going to do another marathon (finish line: April 27th) after I get back on the 24th. But by then, I know I'll win. It's because I will have already figured out what I need to fix in my thesis package because I've failed once already. (Ha! Losing can be winning after all!)
Anywho, gotta run! (Not actually. I'm going to Bojangles to drop them figures in).
Thank you to everyone who's been supporting me through this sometimes-gruesome process. You know who you are because you've seen me act a special kind of crazy-anxious.
xoxx
p.s. Who's joining me at Coachella, weekend 2?
I've been pushing and pushing to get this thing done by April 16th, the day for which I've booked an appointment with the Assistant to Theses at SFU to submit my project report finally. I've been battling the red tape, though, and have spent hours interpreting the convoluted requirements for what consists of a complete thesis package. How do I know if it's "applicable"? Is "suggested" stronger than "optional"? I've fixed style errors, typos, and made it look almost nice. I've sifted through words like a proofreading robot, vowing to never read again.
I've also persisted against the Approvals Page margin problem (thank you fast-ass Purolator and wonderful Zahra at RDC!) and will hopefully have the entire committee's signatures by the end of next week. Now I'm inserting figures into the body of my report (with fingers crossed that I can use them all, as I wait to hear a few answers regarding a couple permissions requests). Once that's done, I'll start getting all the documentation in order, ticking off the list (and checking it twice). Then, off to the printer I go to figure out what "20lb bond paper acid free laser" paper is (maybe I already know) so that I can print it all, stick it in cream-coloured folders with perfect labels on them and submit it at the thesis office.
I've been picturing this scenario over and over again in my head, except that I'm clutching my folders as I run across a finish line. It's a bit less scary than thinking of it as a deadline.
What SFU claims to be "3 steps to submission" really feels more like a marathon - but I'm okay with that. At least I know I'm moving forward, rather than having that dreaded deadline looming over me, as though it's getting closer to me, instead of me chasing it.
So here's to killing the deadline (ironic pun intended) and advocating for the finish line!
Because, if I hit that finish line on April 16th, I am going to be a very happy camper.
Literally.
(Yup, I've decided -come hell or high water- I'm going to Coachella!!)
Of course, I also have a back-up plan, in case I lose the race. I'm going to do another marathon (finish line: April 27th) after I get back on the 24th. But by then, I know I'll win. It's because I will have already figured out what I need to fix in my thesis package because I've failed once already. (Ha! Losing can be winning after all!)
Anywho, gotta run! (Not actually. I'm going to Bojangles to drop them figures in).
Thank you to everyone who's been supporting me through this sometimes-gruesome process. You know who you are because you've seen me act a special kind of crazy-anxious.
xoxx
p.s. Who's joining me at Coachella, weekend 2?
March 9, 2012
rep (n.)
I've taken on a number of new roles in the social media world over the last couple of months and it's really got me thinking about this funny thing we call "klout". (Do note that, however, I have not chosen it to be my word. Rather, it's rep.) Today, I want to talk about reputation, and what it means to represent yourself in the world these days.
It's been a bit of an upward battle for me, trying to see where I (should) fit in. Let me explain. Almost being a grad from the Master in Publishing program at SFU, I'm at bit of a crossroads when it comes to what form my career will take (a little bit like publishing itself, don't ya think?)
It's making me think hard about how I represent myself to the world, how the world sees me - and especially when it comes to the online world, how tangible my reputation even is. Also, once garnering a kind of reputation I can be proud of, what do I do with it?
I've long been a bit nifty with gadgets, and I enjoy using them (as well as fighting them when they don't work). You can say I'm a bit of a Machead, but I am not an early-adopter. Heck, I just got onto Pinterest (and I'm a bit addicted). I've also long been a traditionalist when it comes to art forms: I still scrapbook; I still print my photos; I still cringe at the thought of saving my writing in the cloud (I just don't trust it entirely - even having my entire blog exist solely in digital format makes me wince sometimes).
I'm crossing the line between online and offline constantly, trying to see how to best balance these two planes on which we all operate as 21st century citizens. Being a publishing graduate student, however, this just adds a whole other element to my navigation of the world.
Facebook decided to change our profiles into timelines, emphasizing our "story" over what once was primarily "the wall". I think this is more than significant. This switch brings our personas to the level of community and corporate pages - our stories can be subscribed to. It also embarks to give value to a business' history, present and future and how it tells its story. The holy, omnipresent Facebook has framed the world of society and commerce as a bunch of entities that have reputations to uphold, stories to (re)present. Amidst it all, I'm left to wonder how to best utilize my energy and time to make sure that I represent myself (and my affiliations) effectively and in the right places. It's plain tough (if not impossible) to successfully manage a personal portfolio that exists on a few dozen networks - both offline and online.
I'm gradually delving deeper into the world of social media, becoming more active in more places: As a social media coordinator/online marketer for Global Mechanic Media, as well as a social media engagement officer for the IABC, I'm all over the map: I'm figuring out new strategies and using new tools to boost publicity and increase engagement online; I'm pushing cool new products (like Sir Bit!) and developing content strategy - and all the while I'm also trying to balance my engagement. I engage on a face-to-face level with people in appropriate industries, attend meet ups, find local tweetups, and network at conferences. I'm doing all of this, mind you, while also having what we once unambiguously called "a social life" - I attend concerts and go to parties; I work hard at being a good friend, daughter and girlfriend - generally speaking, while being tapped in online, I also participate in the "real" world (can we still call it that?)
What I'm finding is that I'm incredibly engaged on both a professional and personal level when I use online networking and content discovery tools in tandem with making "real" connections. I try to strike a balance so that when I assess my "klout", I'm assessing my online and offline rep - so that I'm influencing others and being influenced in the most appropriate places and in the most beneficial ways to myself and those around me. We want to feel human. Yet, I also think the human experience is evolving to be very active in an ephemeral place: online.
There's much to be had online, and if we're not active there, are we missing out on an aspect of what it means to be a social being today?
In today's world, I think we benefit from having all kinds of (somewhat paradoxical) "social skills": an ability to multitask while being able to concentrate; being adaptable but also committed; being human, yet always correct; being in many places at once, but always present; being able to think quickly, but also deeply; being open but also judgmental; being hopeful while also cautious and cynical; being creative yet reasoned and restrained; being charming and genuine; being connected and independent...the list goes on.
In a couple of weeks, I'll be sharing some of my (layman) knowledge and experience of social media at Using Social Media to Advance Your Graduate Career panel at SFU, Burnaby. As I think about what advice I'll be imparting, I know I won't be able to stress enough how necessary it is to be personable, not just social, to maintain a good rep.
It's making me think hard about how I represent myself to the world, how the world sees me - and especially when it comes to the online world, how tangible my reputation even is. Also, once garnering a kind of reputation I can be proud of, what do I do with it?
I've long been a bit nifty with gadgets, and I enjoy using them (as well as fighting them when they don't work). You can say I'm a bit of a Machead, but I am not an early-adopter. Heck, I just got onto Pinterest (and I'm a bit addicted). I've also long been a traditionalist when it comes to art forms: I still scrapbook; I still print my photos; I still cringe at the thought of saving my writing in the cloud (I just don't trust it entirely - even having my entire blog exist solely in digital format makes me wince sometimes).
I'm crossing the line between online and offline constantly, trying to see how to best balance these two planes on which we all operate as 21st century citizens. Being a publishing graduate student, however, this just adds a whole other element to my navigation of the world.
I'm gradually delving deeper into the world of social media, becoming more active in more places: As a social media coordinator/online marketer for Global Mechanic Media, as well as a social media engagement officer for the IABC, I'm all over the map: I'm figuring out new strategies and using new tools to boost publicity and increase engagement online; I'm pushing cool new products (like Sir Bit!) and developing content strategy - and all the while I'm also trying to balance my engagement. I engage on a face-to-face level with people in appropriate industries, attend meet ups, find local tweetups, and network at conferences. I'm doing all of this, mind you, while also having what we once unambiguously called "a social life" - I attend concerts and go to parties; I work hard at being a good friend, daughter and girlfriend - generally speaking, while being tapped in online, I also participate in the "real" world (can we still call it that?)
 |
| For a great article about managing time on social media. |
There's much to be had online, and if we're not active there, are we missing out on an aspect of what it means to be a social being today?
In today's world, I think we benefit from having all kinds of (somewhat paradoxical) "social skills": an ability to multitask while being able to concentrate; being adaptable but also committed; being human, yet always correct; being in many places at once, but always present; being able to think quickly, but also deeply; being open but also judgmental; being hopeful while also cautious and cynical; being creative yet reasoned and restrained; being charming and genuine; being connected and independent...the list goes on.
In a couple of weeks, I'll be sharing some of my (layman) knowledge and experience of social media at Using Social Media to Advance Your Graduate Career panel at SFU, Burnaby. As I think about what advice I'll be imparting, I know I won't be able to stress enough how necessary it is to be personable, not just social, to maintain a good rep.
February 15, 2012
professing (v.)
Since last September, I've had a position with the university as a Teaching Assistant for a couple of undergraduate courses. This got me thinking about what teaching is all about. As a recent graduate (and current MPub student), I've known I was taught all my life by others. However, all this teaching business over the last four months has me considering what it means to be on the other side of the equation.
The classes I teach in particular are 300-level publishing and design seminars. One is taught in a computer lab where I offer a weekly abundance of design critiques. In the other, I'm namely a facilitator and overseer of student projects.
All this emphasis on guidance, feedback, collaboration, and discussion has helped me conclude that the line between student and teacher is much thinner than we may realize. (I'm sure, however, Aristotle or some equally inspiring Greek teacher has said the same.)
I'm reminded that learning should always be present regardless of role. Being an expert in something or knowing more than someone else does not make you capable of teaching.
If you don't learn about what your students need, you just can't get through to them - and if you don't let them teach you something every now and then, you won't be the best teacher you can be in the long run. (You probably won't be the best expert, either.)
As with many things in my life, it all conceivably comes back to yoga. And food.
Having taken yoga classes for years now, I've learned a lot from my teachers. One thing that stands out (and it isn't 'how to hold a killer asana') is how significant it is to be our own teacher.
The ability to prepare for a challenge and overcome it (perhaps a neat definition of what it is to learn) comes from within - half of the equation is you.
I can listen to prompts from my yoga mat, watch demos, and memorize sutras; but without a willingness to also learn from myself, I profess, I'll learn little of what I set out to. Our willingness to learn and our willingness to teach are kind of one and the same. By recognizing this ebb and flow, I think we'd all be better teachers and students - of ourselves and each other.
It's tough admitting we're always students - if anything, of our own teaching. It's a constant reminder that there's more to learn (about the world and ourselves) and that enough is never enough. However, good teachers also know this, because they face the same difficulty.
We, as students, should be taught the ingredients, the tools and the techniques - what we cook up is up to us. And to continue with this yummy metaphor, as teachers, we should also learn that there are many different tastes.
So, here's to breaking down the dichotomy of teacher and student. If you are taking part in learning (and not everyone does so consciously), I hope you get your fill by being an avid teacher.
All this emphasis on guidance, feedback, collaboration, and discussion has helped me conclude that the line between student and teacher is much thinner than we may realize. (I'm sure, however, Aristotle or some equally inspiring Greek teacher has said the same.)
I'm reminded that learning should always be present regardless of role. Being an expert in something or knowing more than someone else does not make you capable of teaching.
If you don't learn about what your students need, you just can't get through to them - and if you don't let them teach you something every now and then, you won't be the best teacher you can be in the long run. (You probably won't be the best expert, either.)
As with many things in my life, it all conceivably comes back to yoga. And food.
Having taken yoga classes for years now, I've learned a lot from my teachers. One thing that stands out (and it isn't 'how to hold a killer asana') is how significant it is to be our own teacher.The ability to prepare for a challenge and overcome it (perhaps a neat definition of what it is to learn) comes from within - half of the equation is you.
I can listen to prompts from my yoga mat, watch demos, and memorize sutras; but without a willingness to also learn from myself, I profess, I'll learn little of what I set out to. Our willingness to learn and our willingness to teach are kind of one and the same. By recognizing this ebb and flow, I think we'd all be better teachers and students - of ourselves and each other.
It's tough admitting we're always students - if anything, of our own teaching. It's a constant reminder that there's more to learn (about the world and ourselves) and that enough is never enough. However, good teachers also know this, because they face the same difficulty.
So, here's to breaking down the dichotomy of teacher and student. If you are taking part in learning (and not everyone does so consciously), I hope you get your fill by being an avid teacher.
April 17, 2011
winding down (v.)
Thought it was time I plugged a new entry into my dictionnaire de la vie. Coincidentally, it's pretty well-timed - it's a chance to tie up some lose ends, some dangling threads of time, and reflect on right now.
I've been engulfed in a Murakami novel once again (I treat myself to his dream-like narrative whenever MPub and life stresses get a bit overwhelming), so I've been thinking a lot about capital T, Time.
At the core of the novel is the wind-up bird, this mysterious creature that winds the world and sets it into motion. It's this bird that no one in the story can see - they just hear it at certain moments - when the timing's right. Sometimes, it's during an important and intense moment like when a character is experiencing a death; sometimes it's while the protagonist is enjoying eggs for breakfast. The creaking of a winding clock, embodied in some natural non-mechanical, free-flying creature - a bird - throws him into a deeper reality and makes him experience more than just the sounds of a suffering man's cries, or the taste of his breakfast toast.
I feel I kind of noticed a winding of a clock recently too - like there's an energy being drawn in, so that it can let loose later (soon) and let things unfurl and change.
It often happens around this time of the year - during "spring cleaning" season, the end of school, the start of summer, the lengthening of days, just around my birthday, early in April - this pause for reflection so that time can start again anew.
This year, it's happened because a lot of things are coming together and taking me in a new kind of direction. There's a wind up going on, and I'm in the middle of that pause before the the tick tock motion begins..waiting in anticipation... and it's giving me a funny feeling...
MPub just ended - an eight-month long Masters program during which I spent close to 35 hours a week with the same 25 people. We had our final presentations a week ago, (#Rowlyshomebrew) and I've realized, finally, as we print off our final papers (God-sent), hand them in and get ready to write our one History final on Tuesday, MPub is coming to a close.
We're all heading off to our internships, taking the next step - no more giggling at *those incoherent emails, laughing at stupid puns in our little offices, mooching coffee from Harbour Centre events we aren't invited to, browsing for witty cats and tweeting word counts; no more highlighter pens, broken staplers, and sharing chilly rooms with some of the warmest people on the planet.
Some of us are staying in Vancouver, while a lot of us are also leaving.
In my case, I'm heading off to Montreal for an internship at Reader's Digest. There is crazy amounts of excitement inside me, though I am kind of procrastinating from actually showing any of it - maybe even feeling it.
Just the sheer thought of arriving in a new city, unpacking all of my stuff in my new apartment on my new street, Rue Aylmer... the thought of brewing myself my first cup of coffee (or will it be a brew-diddly?) in my new living room where I'll be until September... the thought of smelling the sheets in my new bed.. it all sends a surge of excitement into my veins and get's me all nervous and anxious and jumpy about the tick-tocking that's about to happen. Yet, even as I think of all this, I'm kind of getting nostalgic for right now.
For this reason, now, until the Time comes, I'm going to spend some time being a little girl, riding a prolonged wave and counting my blessings as though nothing is different..... Soon I'll be opening gifts and enjoying Vancouver "summertime"...before saying goodbye and embarking on a new journey in a new timezone.
The timing isn't right yet to start something new. I need to rest and relax and absorb now...wind down...
and lick all the cooking utensils as my mama makes me my favourite birthday cake.
I'm just gonna wait to turn 24 first, then I'll grow up another year and go coo-coo for "the summer of Vish".
Until then, I'll chirp in naive delight
before I take flight.
I've been engulfed in a Murakami novel once again (I treat myself to his dream-like narrative whenever MPub and life stresses get a bit overwhelming), so I've been thinking a lot about capital T, Time.At the core of the novel is the wind-up bird, this mysterious creature that winds the world and sets it into motion. It's this bird that no one in the story can see - they just hear it at certain moments - when the timing's right. Sometimes, it's during an important and intense moment like when a character is experiencing a death; sometimes it's while the protagonist is enjoying eggs for breakfast. The creaking of a winding clock, embodied in some natural non-mechanical, free-flying creature - a bird - throws him into a deeper reality and makes him experience more than just the sounds of a suffering man's cries, or the taste of his breakfast toast.
I feel I kind of noticed a winding of a clock recently too - like there's an energy being drawn in, so that it can let loose later (soon) and let things unfurl and change.
It often happens around this time of the year - during "spring cleaning" season, the end of school, the start of summer, the lengthening of days, just around my birthday, early in April - this pause for reflection so that time can start again anew.
This year, it's happened because a lot of things are coming together and taking me in a new kind of direction. There's a wind up going on, and I'm in the middle of that pause before the the tick tock motion begins..waiting in anticipation... and it's giving me a funny feeling...
 . |
We're all heading off to our internships, taking the next step - no more giggling at *those incoherent emails, laughing at stupid puns in our little offices, mooching coffee from Harbour Centre events we aren't invited to, browsing for witty cats and tweeting word counts; no more highlighter pens, broken staplers, and sharing chilly rooms with some of the warmest people on the planet.
Some of us are staying in Vancouver, while a lot of us are also leaving.
In my case, I'm heading off to Montreal for an internship at Reader's Digest. There is crazy amounts of excitement inside me, though I am kind of procrastinating from actually showing any of it - maybe even feeling it.
Just the sheer thought of arriving in a new city, unpacking all of my stuff in my new apartment on my new street, Rue Aylmer... the thought of brewing myself my first cup of coffee (or will it be a brew-diddly?) in my new living room where I'll be until September... the thought of smelling the sheets in my new bed.. it all sends a surge of excitement into my veins and get's me all nervous and anxious and jumpy about the tick-tocking that's about to happen. Yet, even as I think of all this, I'm kind of getting nostalgic for right now.
For this reason, now, until the Time comes, I'm going to spend some time being a little girl, riding a prolonged wave and counting my blessings as though nothing is different..... Soon I'll be opening gifts and enjoying Vancouver "summertime"...before saying goodbye and embarking on a new journey in a new timezone.
The timing isn't right yet to start something new. I need to rest and relax and absorb now...wind down...
I'm just gonna wait to turn 24 first, then I'll grow up another year and go coo-coo for "the summer of Vish".
Until then, I'll chirp in naive delight
before I take flight.
April 6, 2011
home brew (n.)
Today, my dear friend Kristine asked me if "hangry" was really a word, or whether I made it up in my last blog entry. I was thrilled to have come up with a word that seems it should be in the dictionary.
In light of this, I've decided to enter a real word this week - just to throw you all for a loop later, when I come up with "dekonky" or "screem".
It all started this afternoon when a couple of my dear MPubbers and I were sitting in class multitasking (i.e. listening to a presentation about the shortfalls of Google Scholar - thanks, Linnet!- while on Twitter - sorry, Linnet!)
We've all been generally tweaking out a bit as we approach the end of our final week of MPub classes (yup, it's eight months later, somehow); as one our professors, John, would describe, we're getting ready to open the little vent at the top of our heads and become stupid again :)
But, before we can vent it all out and start our mini-holidays before internship season begins in mid-May, we've got our final Tech presentations to do on Friday. Fortunately, our nerves will be settled by the lovely faculty-sponsored soiree that follows the presentations up on the 3rd floor of Harbour Centre.
The particular place of interest will be our professor Rowly's office, which transforms into a bar. He even brings out #RowlysHomeBrew - it's red, full-bodied, and oh so delicious. But like all things magical, it only lasts temporarily; free-flowing only to a point but oh so memorable.
So, today's entry goes out to all the homebrewers out there. Whatever it is that you concoct at home, whether it's mulled wine or hoppy ale, handmade jewelry or knit scarves, here's to making lovely things and sharing them with me.
xox
Vish
Vish's lazy but healthy home brew:
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup Vanilla soy milk (So Nice!)
1 cup Odwalla juice (the green one)
In light of this, I've decided to enter a real word this week - just to throw you all for a loop later, when I come up with "dekonky" or "screem".
It all started this afternoon when a couple of my dear MPubbers and I were sitting in class multitasking (i.e. listening to a presentation about the shortfalls of Google Scholar - thanks, Linnet!- while on Twitter - sorry, Linnet!)
We've all been generally tweaking out a bit as we approach the end of our final week of MPub classes (yup, it's eight months later, somehow); as one our professors, John, would describe, we're getting ready to open the little vent at the top of our heads and become stupid again :)
But, before we can vent it all out and start our mini-holidays before internship season begins in mid-May, we've got our final Tech presentations to do on Friday. Fortunately, our nerves will be settled by the lovely faculty-sponsored soiree that follows the presentations up on the 3rd floor of Harbour Centre.
The particular place of interest will be our professor Rowly's office, which transforms into a bar. He even brings out #RowlysHomeBrew - it's red, full-bodied, and oh so delicious. But like all things magical, it only lasts temporarily; free-flowing only to a point but oh so memorable.
So, today's entry goes out to all the homebrewers out there. Whatever it is that you concoct at home, whether it's mulled wine or hoppy ale, handmade jewelry or knit scarves, here's to making lovely things and sharing them with me.
xox
Vish
 |
"It's smoothie season!" This isn't the one I actually made today, but it sure damn looks like it! |
Vish's lazy but healthy home brew:
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup Vanilla soy milk (So Nice!)
1 cup Odwalla juice (the green one)
February 20, 2011
happy hour (n.)
This past week was the highly revered "Reading Break", a week during which Masters students like us, MPubbers, spend six or seven mornings (hopefully) sleeping-in, rest our eyes away from laptop screens, and indulge in a simple thing called "free time".
This year, Ben and I decided to head down to Portland for a few days to get away for a mini-vacay.
The 92 hours we spent there were 100% fantastic, filled with scrumptious food and beer and sights and sounds and tax-free shopping (who knew?! I didn't!)
Of those 92 hours, if we weren't sleeping, we were enjoying the famous Happy Hour, which I have only come to truly understand.
Portland is allll about their dandy discounts, and man, oh, man do they do happy hour justice.
It appears that every establishment has some kind of happy hour deal - and not only that, but a happy hour that spans across about 8 hours of the day, every day of the week. You can get amazing ravioli for $4 (remember, no tax), a cheap haircut, or $9 pitchers without even really trying to plan for it! Ben and I really got to appreciate our senses a bit more.
The lack of sales tax and the great prices just make for a really happy bunch of people. Every waiter we spoke to, every salesperson who rung us in, every person seated nearby, whipped out a napkin and a pen to jot down suggestions of where we should go next.
[the table blow the fold is not scary; it's just ugly - and a game!]
Here are some of the Portland Must-Dos (really, Portland Must-Dine At's)
(I've included some of my own, to pay it forward):
Mix and match, if you dare!
Answers below.
Thank you Portlandians! We like you a lot.
It was such a pleasant experience to be around people who don't seem to have road rage ("rush hour" is pretty happy), and who genuinely want to help out and be NICE. There's this really admirable lacking in cruel ambition; instead, there's a true sense of Zen-like grounded-ness.
Portland, in a nutshell, is a heavenly Vancouver circa the 1980s, before Yaletown high-rises, 778-, and expensive real estate: Before we all became kind of hoity-toity and vain because we live in "the #1 city on the planet."
My fellow Vancouverites, I think it's gone a little to our head; We need to come back down to reality and try to be a little more open, compassionate and conversant with the world around us. Even if we have to deal with HST, it'd be nice to find a little more happy in the hours of our days.
From this point forward, let's bring back the "happy hour" mentality. Let's bring it up in random conversations; let's genuinely smile and not just to be polite; and if we're going to honk at each other in traffic, let's do it to say hi; let's try to make every minute really count.
Cheers!
Answers (but not upside down because I don't know the HTML tag for it..ha!)
This year, Ben and I decided to head down to Portland for a few days to get away for a mini-vacay.
The 92 hours we spent there were 100% fantastic, filled with scrumptious food and beer and sights and sounds and tax-free shopping (who knew?! I didn't!)
Of those 92 hours, if we weren't sleeping, we were enjoying the famous Happy Hour, which I have only come to truly understand.
Portland is allll about their dandy discounts, and man, oh, man do they do happy hour justice.
It appears that every establishment has some kind of happy hour deal - and not only that, but a happy hour that spans across about 8 hours of the day, every day of the week. You can get amazing ravioli for $4 (remember, no tax), a cheap haircut, or $9 pitchers without even really trying to plan for it! Ben and I really got to appreciate our senses a bit more.
The lack of sales tax and the great prices just make for a really happy bunch of people. Every waiter we spoke to, every salesperson who rung us in, every person seated nearby, whipped out a napkin and a pen to jot down suggestions of where we should go next.
[the table blow the fold is not scary; it's just ugly - and a game!]
Here are some of the Portland Must-Dos (really, Portland Must-Dine At's)
(I've included some of my own, to pay it forward):
Mix and match, if you dare!
| A. VooDoo Donuts | B. Bunk Sand- wiches | C. Laurel- hurst Theatre | D. Deschutes Brewery | E. Shanghai Tunnel | F. Henry's Tavern | G. Via Delizia | H. 21st Ave. Grill | I. Elephant Deli | J. Powell's Books (duh!) | K. Rose Arena |
| 1. The Cuban | 2. Heavy Metal | 3. Pineapple brioche with a side of Oe | 4. Visa to China? or fresh-squeezed juice as a vodka chaser. | 5. Maple & Bacon | 6. Shuffle -board + ping pong what! | 7. Bitter Orange Cream Ale & a pretzel! | 8. Free Chalupa? | 9. Italian ambiance for cheap | 10. Super Steak | 11. Mama Leone's soup |
Thank you Portlandians! We like you a lot.
It was such a pleasant experience to be around people who don't seem to have road rage ("rush hour" is pretty happy), and who genuinely want to help out and be NICE. There's this really admirable lacking in cruel ambition; instead, there's a true sense of Zen-like grounded-ness.
Portland, in a nutshell, is a heavenly Vancouver circa the 1980s, before Yaletown high-rises, 778-, and expensive real estate: Before we all became kind of hoity-toity and vain because we live in "the #1 city on the planet."
My fellow Vancouverites, I think it's gone a little to our head; We need to come back down to reality and try to be a little more open, compassionate and conversant with the world around us. Even if we have to deal with HST, it'd be nice to find a little more happy in the hours of our days.From this point forward, let's bring back the "happy hour" mentality. Let's bring it up in random conversations; let's genuinely smile and not just to be polite; and if we're going to honk at each other in traffic, let's do it to say hi; let's try to make every minute really count.
Cheers!
Answers (but not upside down because I don't know the HTML tag for it..ha!)
A5, B1, C2, D7, E4, F10, G9, H6, I11, J3, K8
February 2, 2011
quoth (n.)
Yup.
Sounds like: a wet cough somehow escaping through your nostrils.
It also is an archaic simple past tense version of "quethe" which sounds like: a wet sneeze that somehow escaped through your eye sockets.
The reason this is my word today - apart from wanting to be kind of Murakami-ish - is that my mind's been very occupied with a paper and seminar presentation I've been preparing for my tech class on copyright.
Some keywords spinning through my head recently:
digital locks, creative commons, social restrictions, unregulated use, Lawrence Lessig, Bill Gates, "quoting", fair dealing, DRM, Bill C-32, copying, sharing, expression, creativity, free culture, remixing, Google, attribution, derivative works, creator, user, YouTube, Share-Alike, commercial use, blogging, published, registry, provisions, technology, distribution, interpretation...
These come up in no particular order (though I hope they show up in some meaningful nature in the paper) and are concepts that really cannot be given the proper attention in 1500 words and a batch of slides on WordPress.
However, to give myself some perspective and help myself embrace the fact that it's not up to me to figure out the solution to current issues surrounding copyright law in Canada.....I've employed some Photoshop skillz and devised a few cartoons I consider to be funny - and I hope you'll giggle a bit, too.
Enjoy.
A short summary of copyright law:
Have a good weekend,
- Vish
Sounds like: a wet cough somehow escaping through your nostrils.
It also is an archaic simple past tense version of "quethe" which sounds like: a wet sneeze that somehow escaped through your eye sockets.
The reason this is my word today - apart from wanting to be kind of Murakami-ish - is that my mind's been very occupied with a paper and seminar presentation I've been preparing for my tech class on copyright.
Some keywords spinning through my head recently:
digital locks, creative commons, social restrictions, unregulated use, Lawrence Lessig, Bill Gates, "quoting", fair dealing, DRM, Bill C-32, copying, sharing, expression, creativity, free culture, remixing, Google, attribution, derivative works, creator, user, YouTube, Share-Alike, commercial use, blogging, published, registry, provisions, technology, distribution, interpretation...
These come up in no particular order (though I hope they show up in some meaningful nature in the paper) and are concepts that really cannot be given the proper attention in 1500 words and a batch of slides on WordPress.
However, to give myself some perspective and help myself embrace the fact that it's not up to me to figure out the solution to current issues surrounding copyright law in Canada.....I've employed some Photoshop skillz and devised a few cartoons I consider to be funny - and I hope you'll giggle a bit, too.
Enjoy.
A short summary of copyright law:
 |
| Law of Anne, 1710. |
 |
| No such thing as unregulated uses? |
 |
| Length of copyright terms: creator's life + 50 years! |
 |
| "Google, google, toil and trouble..." The new Disney? |
Have a good weekend,
- Vish
December 22, 2010
resume (n.)
Having neglected this blog for over a month, I feel I've kind of failed at this whole writing thing. Blame busy student life, which goes something like this:
Curriculum Vitae for Fall, 2010
Nov. 28 - Dec. 13 Essayist, Contract
Consumed with XML workflows and articulating their increased presence in today's publishing market
Dec. 3 Lobbyist, "Vish for Lish!" campaign
Attempting to represent Gordon Lish in the controversy about his editing relationship with the short-story writer, Raymond Carver. (Read The New Yorker article to read about what happened.)
Sept. 17 - Nov. 8 "Publisher", HivePress
Mock-book design, -P&Ls, -contracts and more mockery!
Oct. 11 - Oct. 29 "Designer", PUB602
More mock graphic designing - e.g. Talonbooks' Spring catalogue. Vonnegut's Hocus Pocus. And so it goes.
Sept. - Dec. Bedtime Reader, Freelance
The Autograph Man by Zadie Smith; Player One - Douglas Coupland; The Prophet - Kahlil Gibran; Beautiful Losers - Leonard Cohen
Sept. Metadata Geek (real work)
Generating ONIX files for BNC's Biblioshare, CCSP Press and S&D Publishers.
See? My Fall resumé justifies my blogging fail - though, I have officially resumed blogging! Woohoo!
September 10, 2010
workload (n.)
A new month has just begun, bringing with it a new workload.
I started the MPub program I've been raving about to all my friends - and it's fantastic.
I felt a rush of euphoria walking out of the Harbour Centre today, feeling like I was living the dream.
For once it was MY dream!
However, the euphoric moments are yes, mere moments, and my brain somewhat explodes with the thoughts of the workload ahead of me.
However, in the wise words of my friend Alyssa: ONE THING AT A TIME.
And so today, I did a bunch of singular things, which have accumulated to be, well, quite a lot and very important.
I've time-managed as well as I can by purchasing my go-to anti-procrastination device: the personal planner. Now, I always tweak these things to suit my use (pasting calendar spreads, dog-earing pages, making mini bookmarks, and filling it with words of encouragement). And today I did just that. It was an impeccable feeling to know this new school year is Starting Right.
After printing a manuscript for an editing assignment we have due next week, (and after my heart fell into the deep recesses of my stomach when the printer just wouldn't stop printing), I began reading.
I read a lot.
And I'm going to read a lot tomorrow.
And the next day.
And the rest of the month
and semester
and then I will no longer have
the time
to
procrastinate
with
poetry.
(and with blogging?)
Remember, word of theweek month semester: workload
and:
workload - load = work
and this is why it is important to love what you do. And I am thrilled to admit that I am loving the work in MPub.
Now, I'm off to take the load off and read more!
I started the MPub program I've been raving about to all my friends - and it's fantastic.
I felt a rush of euphoria walking out of the Harbour Centre today, feeling like I was living the dream.
For once it was MY dream!
However, the euphoric moments are yes, mere moments, and my brain somewhat explodes with the thoughts of the workload ahead of me.
However, in the wise words of my friend Alyssa: ONE THING AT A TIME.
And so today, I did a bunch of singular things, which have accumulated to be, well, quite a lot and very important.
I've time-managed as well as I can by purchasing my go-to anti-procrastination device: the personal planner. Now, I always tweak these things to suit my use (pasting calendar spreads, dog-earing pages, making mini bookmarks, and filling it with words of encouragement). And today I did just that. It was an impeccable feeling to know this new school year is Starting Right.
After printing a manuscript for an editing assignment we have due next week, (and after my heart fell into the deep recesses of my stomach when the printer just wouldn't stop printing), I began reading.
I read a lot.
And I'm going to read a lot tomorrow.
And the next day.
And the rest of the month
and semester
and then I will no longer have
the time
to
procrastinate
with
poetry.
(and with blogging?)
Remember, word of the
and:
workload - load = work
and this is why it is important to love what you do. And I am thrilled to admit that I am loving the work in MPub.
Now, I'm off to take the load off and read more!
July 22, 2010
awkward (adj.)
That's my word today. Not because I feel awkward, but because I've been in a lot of awkward situations today; to say the least, spelling the word itself is yet just another aWkWard moment.
Anyway, awkwardness began with my sloth-like attitude today, which somehow in its implied ineffectiveness, actually stirred some thoughts inside my head:
I've been invited to a magazine launch for OCW Magazine. It's edited by a girl who's entering the same program as I am in September. In fact, two girls who are also starting the Masters in Publishing program at SFU invited me.
And though it sounds cool - comedy shows, live bands, free subscriptions, drink specials - my first reaction was to not go. I'm a pretty social person and find it pretty easy to talk to anyone; however, I also really really (reaaaallly) like sitting on my ass and doing the "same ol' thing" because it's familiar. I like adventures, but I also really really (realllllly) like my comfort zone. And you know why?
Because it's comfortable. Duh.
Think of it this way:
However, on second thought:
Who wants to hang out with a bunch of dust mites (REALLY scary...I dare you to click) and make like a clown stretching around a clock? Why not try something new, especially with the little time we have on this planet.
So this is why awkward is my Word of the Day. Actually, it's going to go beyond today and become daily; a new mantra, if you will. I'll say this to myself more often, from now on:
"Do awkward things, Vish."
The more effort something takes to do, the more awkward it is, the more I will likely get out of it. And so, I am joining my new mates and will peel myself off my big comfy couch and hit up Gastown.
And just for fun, I queried "Awkward Couches" and found these:
Okay, now that that's out of my system (stupid Internet): The truly awkward thing that spurred all of this:
Today, I was walking over the Granville Street Bridge. I had a tempo going. I needed to pee; I was hungry; and the wind was kind of un-Van-characteristically chilling to the bone, so I didn't want to spend too much time at particularly wind-prone altitudes.
Eye on the prize I pushed my little legs toward Pacific Blvd. As I went, obstacles made their way into my line of vision (and man, they were kind of coming fast, given my own speed-walking). I meandered around the drunk guy who seemed to be running on solely the energy coming in through his iPod headphones. His saliva almost landed in my face as he spat into the wind. Next came the lady who was walking her bicycle (beats me). Passing her was a cinch. The next person was a challenge, however: I pretty much turned into what I most loathe: a tailgater. I was walking on her heels, trying to figure out a tempo so that I could pass her quickly enough, without startling her. I hestitated. Cars whizzed by and there was lots of noise. A bus drove by me, leaving a gust of wind that pushed me to my right. With the added momentum, I went for it. I passed, as we rubbed shoulders.
It was awkward - at least in that moment. Looking back at it now it wasn't really much of anything.
So, next time you get comfortable, say "Yes" to that invite. You'll likely look back and see it wasn't so bad.
So, next time you get comfortable, say "Yes" to that invite. You'll likely look back and see it wasn't so bad.
March 26, 2010
incohesive (adj.)
Yup, that's my word of the day. The patchy sky with its spittings of rain is making me feel wobbly today. It's three o'clock now, and I realized that when a scrumptious vegan chai cashew bar can't fix your appetite for life, it's time to reach for the laptop and give this "blogging" thing another go.
Granted, my blog hasn't been the most cohesive thing on the planet, I think it somehow seamlessly illustrates my confusion in life.
I was recently accepted into SFU's Master of Publishing program - pretty fancy; the only one in Canada; my super intelligent and more-genius-than-me friend got put on a waiting list last year for it, and I got in, first try. I'm pretty thrilled, but rather than being inspired and hopeful, I am worried.
Maybe it wasn't popular this year.
Maybe they needed to fill spots, after a bunch of very smart people realized that BC's arts funding cuts will adversely affect the publishing industry - so what's the point of being in it? Let some other academic wannabe get into the program.
But, then again, maybe I'm brilliant, and if I work hard at it, I won't have to be accepting internships, honorariums and stipends; instead I'll be torn apart by potential employers who want ME to do IMPORTANT HIGHLY PAID WORK.
I guess where I'm getting at is that I'm in a very "incohesive" place because the world is just too uncertain and every path is a hard, uncertain one.
Hell, even as I write this, blooger.com wants to tell me that "incohesive" isn't a word. It damned better be a word! (Otherwise, why am I going into publishing?)
And since when did "blogger" make it into a colloquial dictionary before "incohesive" did?!
(Maybe that's why I'm going into publishing.)
Granted, my blog hasn't been the most cohesive thing on the planet, I think it somehow seamlessly illustrates my confusion in life.
I was recently accepted into SFU's Master of Publishing program - pretty fancy; the only one in Canada; my super intelligent and more-genius-than-me friend got put on a waiting list last year for it, and I got in, first try. I'm pretty thrilled, but rather than being inspired and hopeful, I am worried.
Maybe it wasn't popular this year.
Maybe they needed to fill spots, after a bunch of very smart people realized that BC's arts funding cuts will adversely affect the publishing industry - so what's the point of being in it? Let some other academic wannabe get into the program.
But, then again, maybe I'm brilliant, and if I work hard at it, I won't have to be accepting internships, honorariums and stipends; instead I'll be torn apart by potential employers who want ME to do IMPORTANT HIGHLY PAID WORK.
I guess where I'm getting at is that I'm in a very "incohesive" place because the world is just too uncertain and every path is a hard, uncertain one.
Hell, even as I write this, blooger.com wants to tell me that "incohesive" isn't a word. It damned better be a word! (Otherwise, why am I going into publishing?)
And since when did "blogger" make it into a colloquial dictionary before "incohesive" did?!
(Maybe that's why I'm going into publishing.)
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